Chapter 14
Hi, sorry for the delay. Battling the heat, my bad back and the general lack of time didn't allow me to write for some days. I hope you enjoy this part.
After exactly 3 hours Sharon woke Flynn and dragged herself to her bed, waking up Lauren albeit she tried to be quiet.
"Mom, we need to find out who this house belongs to", she mumbled sleepily. "Yes sweety now go back to sleep", Sharon said gently and switched the bedside lamp off.
With entering the murder room any traces of light mood they had recovered overnight evaporated. Lauren's stomach contemplated doubling over after all, when her gaze fell on the pictures on the murder board.
The invitation to the morgue to be there for Dr. Morales`s insight on last night's victims made her abandon her coffee. She was grateful she had omitted breakfast.
Dr. Morales confirmed what they already had expected. The first victim Nora Meyers received only minor attention from the killer. Cause of death was the deep throat cut otherwise her body had been left unharmed.
Different was the other victim. Tracy Lynch, the second victim of last night was an entirely different story. Provenza had told them, he even had had pity with DDA Rios and called her to avoid the morgue.
"We don't need someone puke on our victim", he said glancing at Lauren.
"I'll try my very best", she had replied and had swallowed the need to throw up twice so far and they weren't done yet.
"Dr. Morales is the kidney missing?" was her initial question. Even revulsion didn't kill her curiosity completely.
The Doctor raised his head "Yeah, how did you know?"
"It's part of the M.O., did you find the ear?"
"No, nothing."
Lauren hummed and thanked the doctor, stepping back a little content with listening to his findings for the rest of the meeting. It was an exact replication of the Rippers killing of Catherine Eddowes over 100 years ago, but for the total cut away ear.
At the near end of the meeting Flynn poked his head in "You might want to rush this along. Taylor is huffing and puffing because we asked McGregor to come in ASAP."
Sharon sighed "Seriously?"
Flynn only nodded. "He's in the murder room right now."
Sharon hummed silently. "I'll be right there."
Lauren was relieved to escape the morgue early, since she didn't know how long her stomach wouldn't betray her. When she entered the murder room after a quick detour the bathroom she heard Taylor before she saw him. He towered of her mother trying to intimidate her, while Provenza held on to Flynn with a death grip on his arm. Andy locked like he wanted to strangle Taylor.
"I told you several times already it's inevitable to question McGregor again."
"Based on what grounds? You have the writing of some psycho on a wall."
"Exactly!" Lauren said pointedly.
"You!" Taylor started but was cut off by Sharon "McGregor is our best lead to find the killer so far", she said trying to reason with the Chief, knowing that was next to impossible when he was in this mood. She continued anyway "Not even the press knew we talked to him, so either the killer has followed us, or he's somehow connected to Douglas McGregor. Either way, we need to talk to him to find out more."
"He's not a suspect?" Taylor blinked surprised.
Sharon shook her head "No, that's what I've been trying to tell you the whole time."
Tao cleared his throat "You might want to reconsider here. Guess who owns the house where we found Tracy Lynch last night Captain?"
"Let me guess Douglas McGregor?" Sharon said calmly giving Taylor an I-told-you-look.
Tao nodded with enthusiasm and pointed out how he found out who was behind the relatively small company officially owning the house.
"Didn't he have an alibi for the 1st and 2nd victim?" Taylor asked puzzled.
"He was at his ranch outside LA on the night Elca was killed and claimed to have had some private time in his suite in his hotel here in LA for the night Melinda died", Provenza read from a notepad he had produced from one of his pant pockets.
"Hell the guy has a helicopter!" Flynn growled and added "He could be our killer."
Taylor let out a breath glancing at Sharon "And here I thought putting you in charge would make my live easier."
Sharon smirked at him "I assure you I won't antagonize Mr. McGregor on purpose."
"I guess one has to thank god for small favors", Taylor said and exited.
"Hey you putted Taylor to flight", Provenza said watching the Chief disappear.
"One has to thank god for small favors", Sharon said silently gazing at the entrance where Sykes just led McGregor in. They were followed by and a blonde woman in a stone grey suit costume. The whole woman looked colorless – even her eyes were pale gray- next to Mr. Gull who wore a black suit, like his boss, with a white shirt and a colorful paisley pattern in blues and yellows. The Captain knew why she had looked at Gull and the woman first. She was avoiding looking at McGregor because she felt his clear blue eyes were on her since he had entered the room. There was no use in avoiding his glance, when she had to interview him in less than 5 minutes. She smiled and resisted the urge to straighten out her lavender skirt. Her eyes wandered from his feet upward. He had paired his black suit with a bluish lavender shirt and a paisley tie picking up the shirts color and had added deep violet shades. Her eyes finally met his and it felt like he tried to look into her soul through her eyes. It wasn't exactly friendly or flirty but it sure made her nervous.
She extended a hand to him "Thank you for making the time Mr. McGregor", she greeted him.
"I'm always happy to help the police", he said and gestured at his assistant and the woman. "I think you know Mr. Gull and this is Lydia Livingstone. Ms. Livingstone will take over Mr. Gull's position when he retires at the end of the year."
Sharon shook hands with both assistants and led McGregor to an interview room.
Flynn had watched McGregor's arrival and followed him and the Captain with a less than friendly look.
"Go and get some air", Provenza grumbled and nudged him in the general direction of the hallway. "Tao, would you join Buzz! Sykes why don't you keep Ms. Livingstone company? Sanchez come with me" he continued and started for the exit himself before he realized he had forgotten the old man and the profiler, but Lauren smiled.
"We're good Lieutenant", she said and handed him a folder before she turned towards the assistant. "Mr. Gull, would you like a cup of tea in our break room?"
"I'd love to doctor", he replied bowing slightly. Lauren led him away while Provenza frowned at the file, while exiting the murder room, Sanchez in his wake.
Lauren brew some fresh Earl Grey tea with loose leaves, her mother's, after she had asked Mr. Gull to take a seat. "Would you like some milk? Sugar?"
"No, nothing, only the tea."
The young woman nodded and prepared the tea under Mr. Gull's watchful eyes. "So you are retiring?"
Mr. Gull nodded. "I'll move to England to be with my family", he said and albeit Lauren couldn't point a finger to it, the answer didn't sound right in her mind.
"And you show Ms. Livingstone the ropes, so to speak."
He smiled "That is the idea."
Lauren served his tea and poured herself another cup before she sat down with him.
"You have heard of the murders?"
"Yes, that's why you asked Mr. McGregor to come in, didn't you."
Lauren hummed. "Yes. We found one of the victims on the list you provided."
"And the other one?"
"I'd have to ask you if you knew her, but that would mean you have to reveal private details of your boss. I wouldn't put you in this position."
Gull smiled "Mr. McGregor wanted us to fully cooperate with the police doctor. So tell me the name and I'll tell you if he knew her."
"Tracy Lynch."
He nodded and thought about it for a moment. "Yes, yes I think she was the first professional escort he ever used. I didn't know she was still in the business."
"She was Mr. Gull, yet not for an agency. She was on her own. Did she work with an agency when Mr. McGregor dated her?"
Another nod "Yes, she did. Mr. McGregor decided to stop seeing her when she quit."
"It's so sad those women were ripped from life in a cruel way", Lauren said letting on the sadness those crimes invoked in her.
Mr. Gull nodded and sipped at his tea. "Did those women have family?" he asked politely.
Lauren shook her head "Two have siblings but no parents, children or partners."
"That is really sad," he said sounding as if he just said it, because it was recommended.
"They worked all their lives", she said and looked up from her cup to find Mr. Gull staring into his.
"Is Mr. McGregor a suspect?" he asked suddenly glancing back up at Lauren.
"He has alibis for the times of the first murders."
"You know there are rumors the killer is mimicking the Whitechapel murders. I read that in some newspaper."
"Oh no. The killer has gone beyond mere mimicking Mr. Gull. The killer is a brilliant mind we might never stop. It seems like he is always one step ahead."
"So you think he's able to fool the LAPD?"
"He has done so for several weeks now, perhaps even longer. We found the last victim in a house that belongs to a company Mr. McGregor owns."
Gull's eyes widened for a moment "Ah, that's why we're here."
"You know, nobody knew we talked to your boss. I'd suggest you be more careful about security details for some time because we probably were followed."
"Thank you for the advice. Are you permanently here, doctor?"
Lauren shook her head "I'm living on the east coast. I work at a university in Boston."
"Ah so you are consulting on this case?"
She nodded "Yes, my professor thought I might be useful."
"Why?"
"Part of my PHD thesis deals with the Ripper murders."
"Have you studied other copy killers?"
"Yes, and yet this one is unique."
"Why?" he seemed suddenly more interested.
"He is more perfect than the others I've studied."
"Interesting, did you ever talk to one of those?"
"Yes and most were seriously disturbed", she shrugged "I guess if we ever find this one he'll probably be the same in the end."
"But you said this one was unique."
"Yes but madness eventually shows. It's only a question how it surfaces. God all the blood, it certainly would drive me crazy."
"To be covered in blood?"
"Rather the cleaning up."
He nodded understanding "I see."
Meanwhile Sharon took comfort in the distance that the table provided. Douglas McGregor didn't seem impressed or insecure, like most people did, when they were placed in a police interview room.
"So what can I do for you?"
"Where have you been on the night of the 30th September?" she asked kicking herself mentally into interrogation mode.
"At my hotel, I had dinner with some friends there."
"Would you mind naming those friends?"
"Actually yes Captain I would. My friends don't like calls from the LAPD as much as I do. That's probably because they don't know you but nonetheless, I won't have you call my friends."
"Too bad we can't verify your alibi then. Mr. McGregor I'd strongly advise you to give up at least some of those names. You don't want to become a suspect in this investigation."
"I thought I was already a suspect."
She then asked, if the address of the house where they found Tracy Lynch rang a bell.
He shook his head.
"Well you are the owner, or rather one of your smaller businesses owns it. There was a Victorian set that ranged over the entire ground floor and we found her", she laid out some crime scene pictures for him "staged in that very same set. In my opinion Mr. McGregor annoying some friends is the least of your problems right now. You have a lot of explaining to do!"
McGregor picked a picture from the table. He stared at the picture and Sharon wished she could decipher what he thought. He didn't seem disgusted or anything else, even his eyes didn't show any emotion.
"That's gross, but I remember this house now. It's an unfinished horror house. The architect quit after I told him I wouldn't raise his budget he had spent all on this stage."
Sharon nodded. "How long has this house been abandoned?"
"Oh I think since spring, but you'd have to ask Mr. Gull for the day I fired the architect."
"Have you found another one?"
"Yes we plan to open it for Halloween this year. The sets are currently built and should be put in around the 15th."
"So you know the place. Do you see why we want to verify your alibi?"
He nodded "Let me talk to my friends they'll call you."
"That's not how it works Mr. McGregor."
"Ok, I'll have Gull put a list together for you. Anything else."
Sharon shook her head "No but you should not leave the country Mr. McGregor."
They both stud and shook hands once more. "You don't really think I did this", he asked finally showing some emotion. He was disgusted when he glanced back at the pictures.
She hesitated and his eyes locked with hers again "No", she said, her voice the ghost of a whisper.